793.94/10039: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:32 a.m.]
644. Official sources confirm press reports from Sian that Military Affairs Commission has appointed Chu Teh, Commander and Peng Teh Hui, Vice Commander of the Chinese Communist forces in the northwest which have been reorganized into Government forces as the Eighth Route Army. According to official sources the cooperation of these forces with Government forces in present hostilities can not be described as formation of “popular front” because the Communists have submerged themselves in that they have promised not to engage in Communist propaganda, have relinquished the class struggle, have no longer their Communist character and Chu Teh and Peng have sworn their allegiance and obedience to Chiang Kai-shek.
Sent to Department. Repeated to Peiping. By mail to Shanghai, Hankow. Peiping mail Tientsin.